facWEEKLY December 20
We hope you've had a good week, FAC Family! Here are just some of the great things happening in the coming weeks.
Please note the church office will be closed December 24–January 3. We will reopen at 8:30am on Monday, January 6.
Worship This Sunday
Light of the World: The Distinction of Jesus | Week 4 | John 1:14-18
This Advent season, join us as we look at the opening chapter of the Gospel of John and see how Jesus has come to us as the Light of the World. This Christmas season, let’s be reminded again, or perhaps discover for the first time, the great gift that God has given us in Jesus to shine in our lives and world, helping us to see the life he has in mind for us.
Christmas Eve at FAC
Date: Tuesday, December 24
Time: 5pm
Place: in the Worship Center & Youth Center
Make plans now, inviting family and friends to join us on December 24, for our annual Christmas Eve candlelight service. This year we will meet at 5pm, offering two venues here at FAC. You can join us in the Worship Center, or for a smaller, more intimate gathering, join us in the Youth Center, where we will live stream the service. Both locations will offer our traditional singing of 'Silent Night' by candlelight.
Magi Offering
At our Christmas Eve service, we will carry on our Magi offering tradition. As in years past, we encourage the FAC family to generously give above their regular tithes and offerings to contribute to those in our congregation who are in need. All Magi gifts go to our Benevolence fund.
When giving, please designate on your check, giving envelope, or Pushpay donation as "Magi offering" to ensure the funds go to the right place. If you would like to give a Pushpay donation click on the button below. (You can give before Christmas Eve if that works best for you).
2024 Year End Giving
Donations to FAC that you wish to have included on your 2024 Year-End Giving Statement must be received at FAC on or before Sunday, December 29, or if mailed, postmarked by Tuesday, December 31. Online credit card donations must be received by Tuesday, December 31. Electronic check donations must be initiated on or before Saturday, December 28. After these dates, charitable contributions will be credited to the calendar year 2025.
If you have any questions about year-end donations, please contact our Executive Director, Michael Lawson, at (814) 833-9862, Ext. 222, and leave a voice message, and he will return your call.
Women 2 Women Bible Study
Date: Tuesdays, beginning January 7
Time: 9:30–11:30am
Place: in room B106
Cost: $13 for book
Join our women’s group as we begin a new study in January by Nancy Guthrie: ”The Promised One”.
“The Promised One” provides a fresh look at the book of Genesis, leading women in discovering how its stories, symbols, people, and promises point to Christ. Over ten weeks of study, participants will see Christ as the agent of creation, the offspring who will crush the head of the serpent, the ark of salvation, and the source of righteousness.
Sign up at the table in the lobby or click on the button below to register.
Bible Reading Plans
Reading the Bible on a regular and consistent basis has several benefits. First, the Bible shows us God’s character and provides us God’s revelation of Himself to His people. In each section of the Bible, we see God’s holy, unchanging, faithful, gracious and loving character.
Second, in 2 Timothy 3:16–17 it says that the Bible is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” The next verse goes on to say that this leads to the completeness and equipping “for every good work”.
Third, regularly reading God’s word reorients our thinking so that we can grow in maturity. Have you ever met a mature Christian who did not regularly read the Bible? We want to help you so we have provided two different plans: 1) Read through the whole Bible in three years and 2) Read through the New Testament in one year. Both plans give you the weekend off in case you miss a day.
Take the challenge! There are copies at The Hub or you can click on the button below.
GriefShare – Loss of a Spouse Seminar
Date: Wednesday, January 8
Time: 1–3:30pm
Place: in room B-106
Cost: $7.00 (Includes participant guide)
Grieving the death of your spouse? You have come to the right place...welcome to GriefShare's Loss of a Spouse seminar. Your life has changed forever. The daily emotions and challenges can seem too hard to bear. God has a plan for your journey of grief, and we have loving and caring people to help you during this time.
Sign up at the table in the lobby or click on the button below to register. The deadline to register is Wednesday, January 8. For more information, contact Greg or Lynda Paulding, (814-823-7396 or 814-873-5002).
DivorceCare
Date: Thursdays, January 9–April 3
Time: 6:30–8pm
Place: in room E215
Cost: $15 (Includes workbook)
DivorceCare is a safe place where caring people come alongside you as you find healing from the pain of separation or divorce. During this 13-week, video-based support group program, you will find helpful counsel to manage the emotional turmoil, learn practical tools for decision making, and gain hope for the future. You can register by clicking the button below. Entry is open-ended, meaning you can join at any time. The cost for the workbook is $15. For more information contact Chuck & Mary Beth Master at 814-520-1947 or email info@facerie.org.
Prayer for International Workers
Bob and Cheryl are international workers supported by FAC, serving in Guadalajara, Mexico. On December 17 there was a district-wide dinner and meeting with all of the pastors of the area, and Bob and Cheryl took four men from the different campuses who have expressed a desire to pursue their calling as bi-vocational pastors in Guadalajara! This is amazing, as when they arrived 10 years ago, there were only three pastors in the district … now, with the Breath of Life church, they could possibly have at least five. Praise the Lord that He is moving there.
You can learn more about them by picking up a copy of our “Prayer Guide for World Missions” near The Hub and you can partner with Bob and Cheryl in ministry by giving to the Great Commission Fund.
Do You Have a Prayer Request or Praise?
"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere" (Ephesians 6:18, NLT).
The staff and elders at FAC would love to pray for you. Send your request or praise to Pastor Scott through the form below.
Finance Information
Father, as we lay before you our financial offering, we give you all that we are and everything that you have entrusted to us. Bless these gifts for the sake of your kingdom and glory.
General Fund
Last Week
Actual: $46,045
Budgeted: $22,977
Prior Year Comparison: $16,811
Year To Date
Actual: $360,759
Budgeted: $341,632
Prior Year Comparison: $315,208